C/2003 S3 LINEAR

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Planetology
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C/2003 S3 LINEAR

General description

C/2003 S3 was discovered on 27 September 2003 by the LINEAR. Next day, its cometary apperance was confirmed [IAUC 8211, 2003 September 29]. Later, S. Nakano linked observations of this comet with measurements of asteroid 2002 XM₁₁₃ taken on 23 December 2001 (NEAT) and on 7, 11, and 23 December 2002 (LINEAR) [Nakano Notes 1022].

This comet made its closest approach to Earth on 9 December 2002 (7.216 au), four months before perihelion.

Solution given below is based on data span over 2.8 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 8.61 au – 8.128 au (perihelion) – 8.80 au.

Comet suffered a very slight planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system, however these perturbations could move out this comet from the solar system (see below).

Figure caption: Time distribution of positional observations with corresponding heliocentric (red curve) and geocentric (green curve) distance at which they were taken. The horizontal dotted line shows the perihelion distance for a given comet whereas vertical dotted line — the moment of perihelion passage.

SSDP Cometary Note C2003S3A5-001

Comet C/2003 S3 LINEAR

number of observations	124
number of residuals	242
data interval	2001 Dec. 23 — 2004 Oct. 23
rms [arcsec]	0.49
orbit quality class	1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20030322.0	= JD 2452720.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20030410.253543	± 0.004094
perihelion distance	8.12943090	± 0.00003043
eccentricity	1.00142723	± 0.00002358
argument of perihelion [deg]	154.553947	± 0.000233
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	226.389152	± 0.000035
inclination [deg]	151.496771	± 0.000029
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-175.56	± 2.90

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of original swarm (5001 VCs) of C/2003 S3. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.
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Original orbital elements (barycentric; at 250 au from the Sun)

Epoch (TT)	16920530
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20030409.093744	± 0.004294
perihelion distance	8.12669499	± 0.00003132
eccentricity	0.99971781	± 0.00002426
argument of perihelion [deg]	154.380377	± 0.000246
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	226.284679	± 0.000037
inclination [deg]	151.518010	± 0.000030
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	34.72	± 2.99

Note: Values of uncertainties of original/future orbital elements were derived using a swarm of 5001 osculating orbits of VCs (including the nominal osculating orbit given above) for original/future orbital evolution calclulations and then by fitting the distribution of a given orbital element of original/future swarm of VCs to Gaussian distribution.

Original barycentric positions and velocities of 5001 VCs at 250 au from the Sun are given here (data format), i.e. before entering the planetary zone.

Future orbital elements (barycentric; at 250 au from the Sun)

Epoch (TT)	23130804
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20030408.011228	± 0.004310
perihelion distance	8.12368438	± 0.00003134
eccentricity	1.00005949	± 0.00002426
argument of perihelion [deg]	154.403211	± 0.000245
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	226.380197	± 0.000036
inclination [deg]	151.491334	± 0.000030
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-7.32	± 2.99